The excerpt that best shows Buck entering into a new episode in his life is:
“He was still limping slightly at the time he rescued Buck, but with the continued warm weather even the slight limp left him. And here, lying by the river bank through the long spring days, watching the running water, listening lazily to the songs of birds and the hum of nature, Buck slowly won back his strength.”
This passage signifies a transition into a new phase for Buck, characterized by recovery and a connection to the natural world, suggesting a shift from suffering and hardship to a more peaceful and rejuvenating experience.